Description

Click here to see our other books! The Diary of Ellen James of Sydenham Ellen James 1864 None : Sydenham 8" by 5.5" 248pp SUMMARY The fascinating handwritten diary of one Ellen James, offering details into her voyage from London to India in the 1860s. Leather Binding,Very Scarce Overall Condition: Fair This book weighs 1 KG when packed UK Postage: £ 3.99 US Postage: £ 22.99 EU Postage : £ 16.99 European Postage: £ 17.99 Asia Postage: £ 22.99 Worldwide Postage: £ 28.99 DESCRIPTION A fascinating, handwritten volume. The front free endpaper identified this as being the diary of 'Ellen James, High Sydenham, July 1864'. Ellen briefly details her daily life by offering one or two sentences describing her health, the weather, and any notable events. By the end of her journal, she has travelled from London to Calcutta. In the first entry, 7th July 1864, she writes 'after shopping, left Charing Cross at 12. Found Willie at London Bridge'. The following day, she mentions arranging a cabin and suite on a boat, but does not explain her destination. However in the following weeks, she offers brief insight into her voyage, with such information as, on the 12th 'Better rather. Got up & went on deck [...] tried to read a little, but soon found it best to bed largely'. She discusses the weather each day, which is largely wet and stormy. On the 26th, she described 'weather VERY hot. Squally at night and heavy rain. A little cabin boy fell overboard and was drowned at about 12 overnight'. By October, she is still on a boat, but consistently writes of the hot weather. In the middle of the month, she becomes ill, and her writing deteriorated. On the 20th October, she makes a brief reference to being in a buggy in Calcutta, and in November discusses packing for Delhi. It is at this point, however, that she ceases writing in the journal. With eighty-six handwritten leaves. To a leaf at the rear is a to-do list of sorts, including the items: ask about furniture; houses, necessities etc.; chintz; mail to England, price of parcels etc. CONDITION In a calf binding. Rubbing to back strip, and boards. Joints starting, with text block detached from binding. Lacking front free endpaper. Pencil inscription to front free endpaper. Internally, binding tender and broken in a number of pages, with each gathering either working loose or detached and loosely inserted. Pages bright, with small bleeds to ink in places. Overall Condition: Fair GLOSSARY OF TERMS Overall Condition (Dustwrapper condition rating is shown after that for the book itself, where a dustwrapper is present) Fine - Very well preserved copy showing very little wear Very Good Indeed - Only one or two minor faults, really a very attractive copy Very Good - Quite a wide term meaning no major faults but probably several smaller ones often expected given the age of the book, but still a respectable copy Good - Meaning not very good. Some more serious faults as will be described in the condition report under 'condition' Good Only - Meaning one or more faults that could really do with repair Fair - As with good only above but with other faults leaving a compromised copy even after repair Poor - Really bad and possibly seriously incomplete. We only sell books in this condition where their rarity or value makes them attractive none the less. Major defects will be described. GUARANTEE We offer a full money back guarantee on our descriptions. Please ask for details and conditions. We prefer PAYPAL. If you pay via PAYPAL we will post the item off the same or the next working day with the postage you have selected. Please note we cannot accept USD cheques